Some people who work in Nova Scotia’s agriculture and trucking sectors say recent large increases in the price of diesel may be passed along to consumers.

In Nova Scotia, the price of diesel was raised three times this week, most recently on Saturday by 15 cents per litre.

It is now selling for a minimum of just over $2.16 per litre in Nova Scotia, compared to about $1.83 per litre on Friday, Feb. 27, before the start of the U.S. and Israel-Iran war.

The Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the world’s busiest and most important naval shipping routes, is located off the coast of Iran. The conflict is disrupting oil tankers from accessing the strait.

Farmer Tawny Stowe expects the price of blueberries to rise. She tasks such as mowing and road maintenance needed for farming are done by equipment that use diesel.

“So if the cost of fuel goes up to this price point, then the cost of food has to be directly impacted,” she said.

The diesel price increase is another challenge for the Oxford, N.S., farmer, who lost her blueberry crop to drought last year.

Stowe said diesel fuel price increases are also driving up the cost of hay, which is preventing her from buying a sheep flock.

Shipping costs

Chris McKee, executive director of the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association, said about 90 per cent of the goods that Atlantic Canadians use and rely on are moved by trucks.

“When we see fuel costs rise this sharply, unfortunately it eventually affects the cost of moving those everyday goods from food to building materials to the end consumers,” he said.

“So at the end of the day, it’s ultimately the consumer that often loses here at the grocery store and the hardware store and so on.”

McKee said the industry is no stranger to changing fuel prices, but said sudden hikes can be devastating for smaller operators.

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